Anderson beats Simon to reach Queen’s Club final

LONDON (AP) — Top-seeded Andy Murray’s bid to reach the final at Queen’s Club ended in frustration on Saturday when his semifinal against Serbia’s Viktor Troicki was suspended in the first set due to rain.

Troicki fought off five break points at 3-3, and Murray earned a sixth when his opponent fell and injured his left shoulder on the grass court as he netted the ball. The 25th-ranked Troicki received treatment but rain prevented further points being played.

The match will resume Sunday morning.

Third-ranked Murray is attempting to reach his 50th ATP Tour level final and the fifth of the season, as he chases his third title of the year after victories in Munich and Madrid. Murray is also bidding for a record-equaling fourth Queen’s Club title, matching the number won by John McEnroe, Boris Becker, Andy Roddick and Lleyton Hewitt.

Awaiting the winner in Sunday’s final is unseeded South African Kevin Anderson, who beat Gilles Simon of France 6-3, 6-7 (6), 6-3.

Anderson, who will appear in his second final of the year after winning his 12th career title in Marseille in February, struck his 34th ace to seal victory. That brought his total number of aces in the tournament to 96.

“I definitely felt I have been serving great this week,” Anderson said.

Just one break of serve decided the opening set as Anderson took a 5-3 lead, and he had the opportunity to further his advantage early in the second set when he held four break points to lead 1-0.

The seventh-seeded Simon fought off the challenge but still found his back against the wall when Anderson served for the match in the tiebreaker at 5-4, and held a match point at 6-5.

Although Simon won the next three points to level the set score, Anderson made the next vital break at 4-3 in the third set, and closed it on his third match point.